Proto-Afro-Asiatic: *ʔarb-
Meaning: elephant; (rhinoceros)
Notes: One wonders whether this root may have been derived from Afras. *ʔar- 'elephant/hippopotamus' (3628), with the -b formant (of harmful animals?). Cf. Blaz. Eleph. 198, 203. In CCh (Kotoko group) *-f versus *-b in other Afrasian is difficult to explain. Cf. ECush: Oromo rōbī, rōṗī; Burji rōbḗ; Sidamo robē, robicco, Darasa rōṗe reconstructed by Blazek as *robH- 'hippopotamus' (Bla. Eleph., 203; add also Geleba rooṗe id. Huds. HEC, 80), likely related with the present root. Blazek also includes in *robH- two forms which are probably related to *lVʔVb- ~ *ʔVlb- 'elephant/hippopotamus' (131).
